Tips from a Contractor

Dear Owner-builders,

When some people think of building their own home, they think of picking up a hammer and actually doing the work that is needed themselves. They may wish to do their own framing, finish, concrete work, etc. in an attempt to save money and gain experience. In my opinion, unless you have experience in a particular trade, it is better to hire a professional trade contractor than to attempt to do it yourself. They have the experience, tools, and manpower to do it right the first time, which will save you time and money. They also offer warrantees on their products and in most cases their services are guaranteed for at least one year. In addition, if you need to fix, make a change, or modify something, it is daunting to think that you will be the one that has to do it. A fact that is commonly overlooked is that time is money, especially when it comes to construction loans. The quicker you can finish your home, the less money it will cost you in interest. You may think that you are saving money by doing a trade by yourself, but, unless you know what you are doing, it could end up delaying your project and costing you thousands of unseen dollars.

When you build your own home, you are your own contractor. You will save more money and headaches by learning how to be your own contractor than by actually doing the hands on work yourself. Most general contractors began as a trade contractor, specializing in a certain type of work, and are not necessarily jacks of all trades. They have simply learned the building process and rely heavily on the companies that they hire to make sure that the job is done right. General contractors spend most of their time informing, organizing, and delegating others. They gather information from the homeowner and then pass it along to their subcontractors. Much of this can be done from their office with an occasional visit to the job site.

Hiring competent trade contractors is one of the primary keys to a successful project. A good trade contractor is experienced, and knows his part of the project intimately. He only needs to know some specific information (provided by the homeowner) to get going and to finish his trade. Hiring just one bad company can completely sour your building experience. Getting the best deal from a subcontractor is not just about getting the best price; it is more about getting the best service.

You are building a custom home, which requires time and effort on your part. Expect to spend at least ten hours a week (during working hours) at the job site. Whether you hire a general contractor or not, you will have to make most of the decisions on your home. There are thousands of decisions that need to be made as your home is being built. It is easier and less stressful to make decisions as needed as your project progresses. Even if you were able to make all of these decisions before you began construction, chances are that you will change your mind when it comes time to order products and choose trade contractors.

Some advice: Be patient with trade contractors and the building process. Be flexible with the products that you choose. Remember that happy companies produce the best products and give the best service. Don’t pay for services in advance. Be persistent in your commitment to be there when you are needed. Make decisions in a timely manner. And last of all; don’t be afraid to ask for advice.

 Sincerely,

 Phil Warner    (General Contractor)